Telegraphic code transmitter



ck. fi, W4. .5. A. SPENQER ETAL, 2&52333 TELEGRAPHIC CODE TRANSMITTER Filed Feb. 11, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet i COUNTER INVENTORS JAMES A. SPENCER CLAUDE L KENNEDY LEWIS A, THOMAS ATTORNEY at 2%, 1948. J. A. SPENCER ETAL 2,452,333

TELEGRAPHIC CODE TRANSMITTER Filed Feb.- 11, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 TMNSM/TTI/VG LINE TRANSMITTER INVENTORS JAMES ASPENCER CLAUDE L. KENNEDY LEWIS A. T OMAS BY Mv-m/ ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 26, 1948 rarest orrics TsLnGnAr-nro cons TRANSMITTER James A. Spencer, leaneclc, N. 5., and Claude L.

Kennedy,

Patchogue, and Lewis A. Thomas,

Brooklyn, N. Y., assignors to Radio, Corporation ofA-merica, a corporation of Delaware 1 Application February 11, 1947, Serial No. 727,880

mentalities for converting tape printer signals I carry only such symbols as are required for controlling slip type telepiinters, i e.,. printers which produce the message as printed characters upon a narrow tape. The message to the sub- 1 scriber is then prepared by manually cuttingthe printed tape into suitable lengths and pasting or gumming the strips to a message blank.

There are instances, however, in which the sub sidiary stations utilize a page printer, i..'e. printers which produce the message on an endless Web of paper. This type of. printer is normally constructed in such a manner as to require certain signals torinitiate the performance of functions which are not necessary in tape printer. operation. For example, page. printers must receive signals to initiate the operations of line feed and carriage return towhich. functions there are no corresponding functions 'ina tape printer.. However, when continental Morse. signails are converted into printer code, only the 3 original Morse signals, suchas punctuation, the symbols for the blank betweentheaddress and the text of a mess-age and between the. end of the text and the signature together with. the end. of message symbol, are transmitted Accordingly, it. is necessary to supply the special signals, re.- quired by the page. printer or to. perform. the op;- erations at the receiver. r

Incrder to eliminate. unnecessary manual op erations in obtaining a final deliverable copy, the present invention is designedso that the. additional functions are automatically inserted; into the transmitted signals in order to: produce a page copy atthc receiving point; 1

Itisan object of this invention to, provide aum iliar-y telegraph signaling apparatus-capable of sensing the proper-times forinserting there.- quired signal combinations and of automatically making such, insertions; I It isa morespecific object ot this invention to produce froma standard .5-unit. telegraph printer code perforated tape, signals suitable for controlling a page type printer.

, It is a iiurther object of this: invent-ionv to; provide a system which will utilize a: perforated tape a 3 Claims. (cine-31) normally producing slip type messages to produce a page copy which can be delivered tov a customer without further manual transcribing or summing. 4

Briefly, in accordance with the invention, a system is provided which will transmit to. a page printer all the characters on a perforated tape and will, in addition thereto, produce and transmit to the page printer two. additional carriage return and two line feed code signals upon the occurrence ofthe'transmission of a carriage return symbol in the tape, thetransm-issi'on of a space character at the end 'of a normal line, after predetermined letter count indicating a. maximum line, or upon the transmission of a symbol indicative of the end oi the message. In addition, in the latter case, the apparatus will continue transmitting line feed characters until a predetermined total. number of line feeds have been counted; I

The above and-other objects of this invention will become apparent upon a considerati'onhof the" following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which the single figure represents schematically a preferredembodiment of the invention.

For the-purposeof simplicity, the chosen embodiment of the invention utilizes S- uni't signals. It will beunderstood that the merits and; advantages of thein'vention are readily adaptable to signaling codes using a different number of elements. It will assist in understanding a study'oi the drawing ifitis remembered that the abbreviations for the relays and magnets roughly describe their functions, i. e., I-IF-Hold Feed, Hl Hold Inserter, ELL-End of Line, EM-Endof Message, FGF-igures, LT-Letters, etc. Referring to the drawing, it will be seen that there has: been provided a standard tape" transmitter illprovided with contact tongues having mark and space positions. Certain of the: contacts of the transmitter are'connected to a series of relays Tl, T2, T3 T 1 and'Tfi. Suitable line resistors ii are provided for each ofthe-afore-mentioned relays. The pathsener-g-izing these relays may: be traced: from a source of power through lead lit, line resistor I l, the relays and leads Hi to thetongues of the sensing switches 15- of the transmitter 2 I". When any of the tongues of the sensingswitches 6:51 arein the mark position, the corresponding. relay will thus be energized.

The segments of the distributor are connected toswitches 20. associated with the: relays T! to T5, inclusive;- The switches are'connecteda so that ,v zhen: the correspondingsrelay'is actuated. alsource of potential is connected through lead it to the correspondin commutator segment.

Also actuated by the relays T! to T5, inclusive, are additional permutation switches 22 which identify various 5-unit signal combinations. The characters identified are Blank (i. e., no marking signals) Carriage Return, Space, Line Feed, the Letter Z, Figures and Letters. As will appear, these combinations are utilized by the inserter.

On the distributor there is placed a cam H arranged to close switch l2 during each revolution of the distributor shaft. The cam surface is designed to close switch l2 approximately at a time when the shorting brush 19 connects with the number 5 transmitting segment, and to open switch 12 approximately at a time whenthe shorting brush 19 connects with the stop transmitting segment. The closure of switch l2 puts a periodic ground on leads 24, and causes pulses to occur on the circuits whose leads connect to lead 24. These circuits will be explained as their functions are taken up in turn.

The first circuit to be operated by switch I2 is step magnet SL of the Letter Counter. A circuit is established from plus, through resistor 23, the

coil of relay SL, lead 24 and switch 12 to ground. The relay SL actuates a ratchet which moves cam 25 one step clockwise for each energization of the relay. Normally this would occur during each revolution of the commutator cam I I. However, should a blank combination be transmitted, the permutation switches 22 establish a path such that ground is applied to leads 24 and 26 simultaneously, thus diverting the return from resistor 23 direct to ground through lead 26 and preventing the operation of step magnet SL- The Letter Counter cam 25 is arranged to close switch 80 after a predetermined letter count. For

purposes of illustration, the count may be assumed to be 60 letters. Closure of switch 60 ties lead 21 to lead 28. When switch 60 is closed, the first space combination on permutation switches 22 causes energization of 1 relay EL through a circuit from plus, resistor 29, coil of relay EL, break contact 30, lead 21, switch 60 of cam 25, lead 28, space combination of permutation switches 22, lead 24, and switch I2 to ground.

The closure of relay EL has several functions. It is held closed by a circuit from make contact 3i of relay EL, lead 34, break contact 32 of relay HI to ground.- Make contact 35 of relay EL closes a circuit which operates solenoid l3 and lock l4, mechanically stopping the transmitting tape and locking sensing switches [5 against the insulated space bus 2|. grounds lead 38, actuating the release magnet RL of the Letter Counter. Make contact 3'! of relay EL completes a path from plus, through resistor 44, coil of stepping magnet SI of the inserter, lead 40, break contact 38 of relay HI, break contact 31 of relay EL, lead 4i, contacts on arm 42 of the inserter switch, lead 43, lead 24, and switch 12 to ground.

The stepping magnet SI of the inserter has a ratchet which advances the switch of theinserter one step. In the number 2 position inserter arm completes the circuit from plus, through series resistor ll, coil of relay T4-and lead 41 to ground, thus transmitting a carriage return code combination to the line. The next actuation of switch l2 transmits a second pulse or current into the coil of the inserter relay SI which steps the inserter switch arms 42 and 45 to the number 3 position. With arm 45 on the: number 3 position,

Make contact 36 of relay EL operation of the number 2 position is repeated and the arms stepped to the number 4 position.

With arm 45 on the number 4 position the foregoing operations are repeated with the exception that the path is through lead 48 and the coil of relay T2 causing a line feed character to be transmitted and also a line feed combination to be set up in permutation switches 22. This establishes a path from plus through series resistor 15, coil SF of the Line Feed Counter, lead 49, the line feed combination of the permutation switches 22, lead 24 and switch l2 to ground.

The next pulse from switch [2 actuates magnet SF of the Line Feed Counter which advances cam 50 one ratchet tooth. The same pulse also actuates stepping magnet SI of the inserter, advancing switch arms 42 and 45 of the inserter to the number 5 position. With arm 45 on the number 5 position, the foregoing operations are repeated and the switch arm 45 is moved to the number 6 position. v

The arrival of arm 42 at the number 6 position forms a path for operating relay HI from plus, to the coil of relay HI, lead 54, arm 42, lead 43, lead 43, lead 24, and switch [2 to ground. Relay HI operates and locks up through lead 54, offnormal switch 45 associated with the inserter switch arm 42, lead 53, and make contact 5| on relay HI to ground. The operation of relay HI opens the hold circuit of relay EL by means of break contact 32 of relay HI and releases relay EL. Break contact 39 of relay HI opens the return to the inserter stepping magnet SI. Make contact 52 of relay HI closes a return path for the coil of release magnet RI of the inserter, from plus, through series resistor 16, coil of release magnet RL, lead 55, to ground. The inserter release mechanism operates and mechanically returns the inserter switch arms 42 and 45 to their home position.

The return of switch arm 42 to its home position opens off-normal contact 46, thus releasing the locking circuit of relay HI. The release of relay HI opens contacts 52 removing the actuating current from the release magnet RI oi the inserter. The release of relay HI closes contacts 39 and returns the actuating circuit to the stepping magnet SI of the inserter. However, this circuit is opened at contact 31 on relay EL. The release of relay HI returns the holding path of relay EL to normal through the opening of contacts 32 of relay HI.

The release of relay EL opens contacts 35, releasing solenoid 13, opens contact 36, deactivating release magnet RL and opens contact 31. As a result, lock l2 releases the sensing switches l5 of the transmitter at a time while shorting brush "I9 is traversing the stop magnet of the distributor, permitting the transmitter to continue at normal operation.

Should a space combination fail to appear on the permutation switches 22 within a predetermined number of letters, say ten, after the closure of switch 60, the continued rotation of the cam 25 will close switch 10. The closure of switch 70 will energize relay EL through leads 21 and 24 initiating the insertion cycle as described above.

The occurrence of a double dash code character in the 5-unit code chosen for purposes of illustration is translated as a carriage return function will likewise lock up relay EL and. start the insertion function. In this case three "carriage return functions and two line feed funct on w l be transmitted.

:tza isaess s R'elay FG' operates upon the. figure"-combination in the permutation switches 22 and locks up :f-roiniplu's through series resistor 56, break contacts-'7 of relay LT, coil 58nf relay Giginrailie .cbntacts59fof relay :FG to ground; Relay LT operates in response to a letter combination mexi's'ting in the permutation switches 22. The function 'o'f relays PG and LT is therefore to register thelast casefshift' selection passed 'thr'ough the'tran'smitter. I i Upon the occurrence of the letter. Z fwhile relay :FG is closed (upper-"case Z) indicativeof 'the end of "the message, a circuit is completed .iroin'plus t'nrough resis'torfit, ibreak contact 62 oi the line f" dboun-tenlead 63-, coil*of relay EM-, make"cont 't fid-o'f relay FGQabon'ibination of permutation switches 22, lead 24 and switch 12 to ground. many E'M 'locks up throiigh break contact '62 and irs-own'inakeeontact '65 to ground;

EL s'ta'rtihg the insertion 'fu'n'ction. HowlbSiiI-e of relay opens -break contacts'ss 'vmg nte connectionhetween le'atlsM and 41, kittirhhth' sWitcharin 42 of the ihs'eiter reaches the number 5 position the actuating path oi -straying magnet 'SIflof the ihselt'e'r is broken. tillsl t'el Witch Bii'li'ls 42 and. 45 remain in this position and the-transmitter continues transng line feed characters and the Line'Fe'e'd bounter'contin'ues to count these characters until 3 switch 'l3 of the Line Feed Counter, lead'i 2 make contacts fl"! "of reIa'y I-IFand the coil of relay HF to ground.

The-release of relay closes break contact 66 allowing thesucceeding closure of cam switch I2 to step switch position-"whence theinserter'will be reset and release relay EL as explained; lbdve;

The closure of contacts Jitofrelay HF actuates release magnet of the Line -Feed Counter allowing cam 50 to reset. In its home position.

"cam 5 9 opens switch 1-3 releasing relay H'Fand thence magnet RF.

The foregoing operations initiated by the upper case Z code signal complete the counting function of the Line Feed Counter and reset all counter circuits to zero. Relay FG remains locked up until the occurrence of a letter combination, otherwise all circuits are in exactly the same condition as they were at the start of the message.

In describing the operation of the invention, several lines of an assumed message will be utilized in order to exemplify the several possible sequences of operation.

The first line will be assumed to be a normal line having no abnormally long words in it. As the transmitter IU scans the perforated tape, the signals will be transmitted in the normal fashion. Each revolution of the distributor path causes, through the closure of switch l2, a pulse to appear across the Letter Counter Step Magnet SL and advance cam one step. The normal operation continues until the cam 25 reaches a position where switch 60 is closed, tying together leads 2'! and 28. The tape transmitter will continue transmitting the signal characters until the occurarms "42 and '45 to their number 6 '56 re'n'ce pita space signal indicative or aminterval between igroups of -'si'gnal characters. Upon such an occurrence,ithe'spermutationswitches 22 operate as described above-toenergize relay EL, and "locks the transmitter 1-0, through the energization of solenoid 1'3. The-next closure of switch 12 @on the-distributor energizes 1a stepping magnet 'sI oi the in'serter and steps switch arms and 115 toipositidn number 2. This stepping establishes a carriage return code combination which is transmitted "by the distributor. The nextclos'ure of switch [2 stepsthe inserter switcharms'd z and "*4 5 to the number 3 position where a second ca'rriage return 'functionis transmitted and the switch arms are'stepped to the number 4 position. With the switch arms in the number 4 'position, a line f'eed signal is transmitted and the' a'r' rns Step to the number 5 position. With the arm -ih the r'iurnber 5 position, the foregoing operations are repeated and the switch arms moveto the Humbert position. nrthenumber 6 position'the :next pulse'iproducedby the closure of "switch 2 tpe s relay HI, rle'a'ses relay EL, opens the it othe in-setter, re1eases magnet'RL, reliii-lfiing arm's d2 Eti'i'd 55 "to their 'nome' 'pdsition, and releases solenoid i3 unlocking the'tapetransmitter Hi.

At this point the insefter switch arms 'aiidthe letter c'bilht'i' are thil hdmepbsitibhS; 'The Line Feed'Cbunterhas counted two steps. The letter counter resumes counting as before.

Let it be med that the next line contains -"an abfiol mal'ly long 'Wdid near th'e'eild 'ofthe 'l'i'n, that is, a space iails to appear after switch 60 and the continued rotation of cam 25 closes switch 10. The relayEL will then be energized upon the next 'p'ulse p'roc'lu'ced by the closure of switch 1 2 and will initiate the insertion cycle as just described. This 'will prevent the piling up of letters at the end or a linedue to abnormally lo'ng words. Let it be assumed that the next line completes a paragraph. There will thus appear in the tape *a do'uble da'sh code'character. The occurrence of a double-dash code character which'in the 5 hit code is transmitted as a-c'arri'age return function, will actuate permutation switches *22 in such a manner that the next closure of switch [2 win energize relay EL and initiate the insertion function. In this ease'thre'e carriage return functions "and two line feed functions will be transmitted.

"Let it be assumed that the final line ends the message. There will then appear in the tape a signal character corresponding to an upper case Z. Upon the occurence of the letter Z while FG relay is closed, indicative of the end of the message, relay EM will be energized. The energization of relay EM actuates relay EL starting the insertion function. However, the circuit to the inserter stepping magnet SI will be opened when the switch arms 42 and 45 reach the number 5 position. The transmitter will continue transmitting line feed characters and the Line Feed Counter will count these characters until the cam operates switch 33. The operation of switch 33 closes relay HZE releasing relay EM so that the next closure of switch l2 steps the inserter switch arms 42 and 45 to their number 6 position. From the number 6 position the system is reset in the same cycle as described above.

In recapitulation. therefore, this invention describes an apparatus which is completely automatic in its operation. is fully controlled at the transmitting station and which will transmit to a page printer all the characters on a perforated 5-unit printer tape, and will, in addition thereto,

produceandtransmit to the page printer two additional carriage return and two linefeed code signals. upon the occurrence of any of the following signal characters:

Transmission of a carriage return character in the tapefitransmission of a space character at the end'of a normal line, transmission of a predetermined letter count indicating a maximum line, or upon the transmission of an upper case Z. i

In' addition, in the latter case, the apparatus will continue-transmitting line feed characters until a pre-determined total number of lin feed characters have been counted.

While the invention has been described in connection with a 5-unit signal code, it will be clear that the merits and advantages of the invention maybe utilized with other types of codes ,without departing from the spirit of the invention. It will also be clear that while only the insertion of .-carriage return" and "line feed functions have been described, other characters may be inserted at desired times. For purposes .of simplicity, a plurality of sources of operating power have been shown in the drawing. It will be obvious that any desired type of common power supply may be used.

While there'has been indicated and described a system for} carrying the invention into effect, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that our invention-is by no means limited to the particular organization shown and described, but that many modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. In a telegraph printing system utilizing a fixed unit signal code, a tape transmitter having a distributon-a relay for each unit of said code connected so as to establish a potential on an element of said distributor when energized, means energizing said relays in accordance with the signal characters to be transmitted by said transmitter, means counting the signal characters transmitted, means operated by said counting means interrupting the transmission of said signal characters after the transmission of a predetermined number of said signal characters, means operated by said counting means energizing said relays during said interruption in accordance with function performing characters not appearing in said signal characterswhereby said distributor transmits said function performing characters during said interruption and means operated by said counting means reestablishing the transmission of said signal characters after the transmission of said function performing characters.

2. In a telegraph printing system utilizing'a fixed unit signal code, a tape transmitter having a distributor, a relay for each unit of said code connected so as to establish apotential on an element of said distributor when energized, means energizing said relays in accordance with the signal characters to be transmitted by said transmitter, means counting the signal characters transmitted, means determining the occurrence of a group interval in said signal characters, means operated under the joint control of said counting means and said interval determining means interrupting the transmission of said signal characters upon the occurrence of a groupinterval after the transmission of a predetermined number of said signal characters, means operated by said counting means energizing said relays during said interruption in accordance with function performing characters not appearing in said signal characters whereby said distributor transmits said function performing characters during .said interruption, and means operated by said counting means reestablishing the transmission of said signal characters after the transmission -of said function performing characters.

3. A telegraph printing system in accordance with claim 2 including means operated by said counting means whereby the interruption of the I transmission of said signal characters and the insertion of said function performing signals will occur upon the transmission of a second greater predetermined number of signal characters without the occurrence of such a group interval.

JAMES A. SPENCER.

C. L. KENNEDY.

LEWIS A. THOMAS.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Connery July 10, 19%

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